The series finale between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves is an exclusive national broadcast for ESPN Sunday Night Baseball, and accompanying it is a “KayRod Cast” that begins at 4 p.m. PT on ESPN2, hosted by Michael Kay and Alex Rodriguez.
It’s a second such appearance for the Braves but first for the Dodgers. The new presentation takes inspiration from the wildly successful “Manningcast” that was paired with Monday Night Football on ESPN, and is accompanying eight Sunday Night Baseball telecasts for the 2022 regular season.
“KayRod Cast” premiered April 10, and the Dodgers-Braves game is the fourth broadcast. Each week, Kay and Rodriguez have welcomed special guests, and Sunday sees a collection of current and former players, along with entertainers.
The list of guests appearing on the latest “KayRod Cast” features Ice Cube, Tony Danza, Jeff Francoeur, Steve Garvey, Leo Mazzone and Albert Pujols.
And just confirmed we will also be talking with Steve Garvey during the #kayrod cast! https://t.co/amQdhHXNnq
— Michael Kay (@RealMichaelKay) June 26, 2022
Although “KayRod Cast” is widely considered an alternative viewing option, Kay and Rodriguez remain committed to keeping the focus on the game.
“The way I look at it is like we’re going to the Michael Kay Pub and we’re inviting whoever wants to show up and just eavesdrop, and we’re going to have in depth conversation. We have a great friendship,” Rodriguez said during a recent conference call.
“I think the product will take care of everything. If we’re really in the moment, if we have great surprising guests who dive in — what’s worked so well in podcasts in the long format is you’re able to chew on the bone and go deeper and deeper, rather than go wider and shallow. We have the ability to go deep and engage into some great topics.”
Kay added: “I think the pace is perfect for it, the time between pitches is perfect for it. It’s always been a storytelling game, and now with the video aspect of it where you don’t have to be beholden to ball one, strike two, where people can actually see it, conversations are freer, they’re easier. There’s so many things to pick apart in a game.
“The thing that I hope comes out of this is I want to get Alex Rodriguez to be the Alex Rodriguez that I used to speak to in front of a locker where there wasn’t the confinement of this has to be done for television, you have to look here, you have to break here, because I don’t think I’ve ever met anybody who knows more baseball than Alex.
“I look at him as like a baseball genius, and to give people the opportunity to like peel back the layers. And again, this format gives us the perfect opportunity to do that. I think people are going to be shocked at the stuff they hear from him because he really knows the game so well. And I think you bring it up perfectly, this is the perfect venue for it.”
Fans who opt for the traditional ESPN Sunday Night Baseball broadcast will hear Karl Ravech on the call, joined by analysts David Cone and Eduardo Perez, and reporter Buster Olney.
“KayRod Cast” schedule for 2022
April 10: Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees
April 17: Atlanta Braves vs. San Diego Padres
May 1: Philadelphia Phillies vs. New York Mets
June 26: Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Atlanta Braves
July 3: St. Louis Cardinals vs. Philadelphia Phillies
July 10: New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox
Aug. 14: TBD
Sept. 25: TBD
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